Improvement in looms for weaving hair-cloth



f 4Sheet--Sheet 1. l. TU RVPIE.

Loom for Weaving Hair Cloth.

No, 166,732 Patented Aug.17,v1875.

TEM

MPETEnSHvGTo-UTHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D C.

4 Sheets--Sheet 2i TURPIE.

Loom-for Weaving HairACIoth.

N0,.166,732, Patented Aug.17,1s75.

1 TURPIE.

Loom for Weaving Hair Cloth.

4 Sheets--Sheet 3.

No. 166,732, Patented Aug.17l,1875.

' 4Souhoets- V-rSieetft.V l'. TURPI'E.

Loom for Weaving Hair Cloth.

No. 166,732, PatentedAu .17,1875.

Www/Mon view of the extreme external parts.

JOHN TURPIE, OF NEWVYORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR 'IO HIMSELF AND EDWARDv H. FAULKNER, OF SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN Looms Fo'R wEAvlNG HAIR-CLOTH.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 166,732, dated August 17, 1875; application filed June 16, 1875. y

To all whom it may concer/n:

Be it known that I, JOHN TURPIE, of New York city, in the State of New York, have invented certain Improvements relating to Looms for Veaving Hair-Cloth, of which the following is a'speciiication:

The invention lies in a number of important modifications of the details for holding the hairs, accommodating the selecting mechanism by presenting the hairs more favorably thereto, better drawing the hairs across, and engaging them successively with, the carrierhook,traversing the nippers which hold the end of the hair a little into the shed, so as to reduce the waste or projecting end ofthe hair, preventing thel lay from striking when a hair has been missed, and removing the hair from the loom for a little time after a hair has been missed.

The, following is a description of what I esteem the best means of carrying out the invention. The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification.

Figure l is a side elevation, showing the eX- terna-l parts and some of the internal parts, wherein the novelty lies. Fig. 2is a plan Fig. 3 is a side elevation of some of the internal parts. Fig. 4 is a plan view, corresponding to Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical section, showing the provisions for arresting the blow of the reeds by lessening the stroke of the lay. Fig. 6 is a plan view, showing the same. Fig. 7 is a front elevation, showing the same, and Fig. 8 is a front elevation, showing the means of yielding in receiving motion from the jacquard rod.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures. n

The machine somewhat resembles that previously invented by me and described in the patent dated September l5, 187 4, N o. 154,996. All the parts not otherwise referred to, and

. the several duties not otherwise specifically described, will be understood as corresponding with the similar parts and duties in the said previous patent.

A is the rigid frame-work, of cast-iron, certain points in which will be designated A1 A2, 85e., when necessary. D is a delicately-loaded hair-holder adapted to retain the hairs in a cradle or series of hook, D1, down at the proper level to subject it to the action of the nippers or selector N, being suspended at a point, J, considerably higher. It is free to swing to a considerable extent on the center J, and is providedwith a balance-arm, D2, and an adjustable weight, D3, thereon, whereby the force with which it retains its vertical position may be adjusted .at -will. D4 D5 are long coiled springs, exercising a gentle force to depress corresponding series of top fingers d4 d5, connected by rods extending up through the coiled springs to handles D6 D7, conveniently placed. When a fresh lot of hair is to be introduced the top fingers are elevated by applying the hand to the handles D6 D7, and after placing the hair in the cradle and liberating the handles the top fingers sink thereon with a gentle force, which they follow up as the .bunch of hair is gradnally'reduced by the successive withdrawals. The division of the top fingers into two sets, operated by separate springs, and handles, causes the mass to be pressed upon with gentle but nearly uniform force throughout the breadth of the cradle, however irregularly the hairs may be massed.

It is desirable that the thrusts of the nippers or selector N into the mass of hair should not be always at the same point. To avoid this I provide a gradually rising and sinking motion for the whole hair-supporting apparatus. The pivot J is carried on a slide, J1, which is capable of vertical movement on the rigid post A2. Its elevation is determined by an arm, J2, which rests on an eccentric, F, whichis turned step by step at each pick by the action of the reciprocating rod G, carrying a hook-pawl, g, and operated by an arm, a, from the selector motion. The stops G1 G2, which receive the motion from the pin n, extending the center J, and consequently the Whole mass of hair, is being constantly and alternately elevated and depressed. As the selector does Fisica.

not partake of this motion, it is continually plunged into a new place in the mass of hair. The freedom ofthe hair-holder to swing on the pivot J, and the capacity for adjustin g the force withwhich it seeks the vertical position, provide avery gentle but sutcient resistance to fthe plunging action of tlie selector. In practice the hair-holder swings la little at nearly every plunge, and the extent of the swing will depend upon the accidental condition of the hair at the point where the selector strikes. The swinging motion accommodates the .action in this respect, and tends to insure a uniformity of resistance to the plunge. There is also another important function performed by the swinging motion of the hairholder, whereby it is intentionally swung by another agency entirely out of the reach ofthe selectorv under certain conditions, and maintained there for a considerable period, as will appear farther on. B is the main shaft, turned by any suitable power.k C is the lay, swinging on an axis, c, and receiving motion from cams Bl B1 on the main shaft B, through the medium of levers B2 B2 and elastic and yielding connectionsB3 B3 and springs b3 b3. The connecting-rods B3 are capable of sliding endwise through their bearings in the pivoted upper ends of the levers B2; but they do not perform such motion except whenthe motion of the lay is forciblyarrested. The spiral'springs b3 exercise sufiicient force to ordinarily transmit the entire motion of the levers B2 to the lay.V In case, however, that anything is interposed to prevent the fulI motion of the lay,

' the spiral springs b3 are/ ready to contraen-allowing the connecting-rods B3 to slide a little in their hinged connections B4 with the levers B2.v In case a hair is missed this elasticity i made available.

A stout shaft, E, extends across nearthe front of the machine, carrying arms El, which, when brought up a little above a horizontal position, are struck by the lay, and arrest its motion. When this shaftE is turned a little to depress the arms El, they become of no effect, and the lay is allowed to perform its ordinary functions. Some parts of the provisions for effecting this important end are closely analogous to those in my previous machine.

When,as will ordinarily be the case, the nippers N, after being plunged in the mass of hair and closed therein, have seized a hair, and, on

their withdrawal, proceed to draw it across the hook,(not represen ted,) whichcarries it through the shed, the feeler I will be supported on said hair, and the machinery will continue to operate in the ordinary successful manner; but when, in consequence of failure to thus seize and `draw out a hair, the feeler I is not thus supported, but is allowed to drop with gentle force, allowing the heavier lever Il to tumble forward under the force of the spring l2, it causes the bolt I3 to protrude into the path of the shoulderI1 on the vertically-slidin g rod I5. The motion of this rod I5, which would otherwise correspond with the motion of the parallel rod H, and consequently with the jacquard to depress the link I3, and thereby to rock the shaft E and depress the arms El. It follows that one result ofthe failure of the selector N to secure a hair is that the arms E1 remain in a position sufficiently elevated to strike and arrest the motion of the lay before it has moved the reed quite up to the weaving line, and thus to protect the goods from any action thereof or blow therefrom. This avoids the production of a mark across the goods when the work is subjected to repeated blows of the lay. Another and very important result follows the sinking of the feeler I, and the consequent tumbling forward of the lever I1. The shaft E, when the machine is working properly, is subjected to a steadily-oscillating motion. Itis turned in the direction to elevate the arms E1 by a weight or other force, represented in these drawings by the springXactingon the arms E2. It is rocked in the opposite direction by a force received from the lever I7, through the link I8. This link is connected to the pin E4 on the varm E3, which is received in av slot of considerable length, but not of sufficient length to allow for the whole rocking motion ofthe lever I7. When the latter rocks to its proper extent the slot in the link I8 acts on the pin E and draws down the arm E3.

` VThe transmission of motion to the shaft E and to the arms E1 is not the only-function of the arm E3. It carries also'a stout pin, E5, projecting therefrom at right angles, and forming a support outside of the frame-workA for the rod O, which receives a reciprocatingmotion from the crank-pin ()1 carried on the short shaft P. This rod is slotted to play freely on the y pin E5, and its elevation is obviously controlled by the position of the latter. A hook-pawl, O2,

is carried on the rod O, being pivoted thereto 'at the point 03, and is supported in an approximately-horizontal position by the spring O4.,

It follows that when the feeler I fails to rewheel, K, having a number of teeth adapted v I' to b e turned step by step by the hooked lpawl l O2, when it reciprocates in its highest position, but to be left unaffected when the rod Ov I and its 'connected hooked pawl OZ are 'depressed, as usual, at each motion. A pawl, k, centered on a fixed pin, A5, stands ready to engage with the ratchet K, and to hold it in any position in which it may be left.

It will be understood that there is a jacquard or equivalent mechanism, more or less complex, which determines the figure of the goods, and that such :jacquard is worked uniformly by the vertical movement of the ,slide H, the motion of which is never interrupted while the loom is in operation. The number of teeth in the ratchet-wheel K corresponds with the number' of picksto complete a round of the jacquard or equivalent shaft, or, in other words, to complete a figure in the goods. A cam, K', is fixed on the side of the ratchet- `wheel K. This cam K is mainly circular, but with a deep recess in one side adapted to re ceive a roller, L', on a loaded lever L, which turns on'a fixed stud, A6, and tends to press gently against'the cam K. The upper end of the lever L presses against an arm, D3, on the swinging hair-holder D. In the ordinary working of the loom the cam K stands .in such -a position that the roller L is received in the hollow side thereof, and the hair-holder is therefore allowed to remain in its ordinary position, and the nippers enter Vthe bunch hair and extract one hair, or endeavor to, at each motion; but when, in consequence of a failure of the nippers to engage a hair, the train of motions resulting has arrested the rockingof the shaft E, the next movement to the left of the hooked pawl O2 is performed at a higher level than usual, and it engages with one of the teeth'of the ratchet-wheel K and partially revolves it. Such partial revolution turns the cam K' sufciently to throw the roller L out of its hollow, and to commence to support it on the circular portion of its periphery. This movement carries the connected lever L to the right, and holds it there in such a position as to force away the movable hairholder D out of the path of the nippers. Thus conditioned, the loom will make just four additional picks, (assuming` the ratchet-wheel K to have iive teeth,) which are entirely inoperative. After the ratchet-wheel K has been turned step by step once around the wheel L is again received in the hollow in the cam K', allowing the hairholder, with its contents, to again swing down to its ordinary position, and the next movement of the nppers will ordinarily seize a hair, and the work will go on as before. When another hair is raised the same round of operations is repeated.

E6 is a straight arm fixed on the shaft E, and which, in connection with an arm or pin C', on the lay, insures that the arms El are held certainly and firmly in the elevated or depressed position-that is to say, when the rise or the depression of the rod O has, through the lever IT and link I8, communicated to the shaft E the proper motion, either allowing the arms El to remain elevated in the position to arrest the lay, or to be depressed in the position to allow it to pass freely, the arm E6 is received below or above the pin G', as the case may be, and thenceforward during the remainder of the forward movement of the lay the position of the arms E1` is positively determined thereby. If a hair is engaged, and the slide I5 rises, as usual, the link I8 turns the shaft E and depresses the arm E6, so that it is received under the pin C. Thus condi- '.tioned, the latter part ofn the forward motion of the lay acts forcibly on the u-ppcr side of the arm E, and depresses the arms E1 farther' than they would' otherwise be depressed, and it thus insures that they are fairly land fully out of the way of the lay, so that the lay may complete its stroke, and drive up the hair to the weaving-line. When, on the contrary, the selector has failed to engage a hair, and the feeler I has dropped, thereby inducing the arrest of the vertical slide I5, and a failure ofthe link I8 to turn'the shaft E, then the arm E6 is received above the pin C', and the last part o'f the forward motion of the lay actsv forcibly on the latter, to hold up the arms El very firmly in their required position, so that they cannot be disturbed by the rather powerful impact of the lay when the loom is working rapidly.

I give a peculiar motion to thev selector after the hair is engaged. The selector proper, or

the nippers N, are connected to the slide N1., which gives it the backward and forward motion through the medium of peculiar hinges `V1 V2.

The rst hinge, V1, allows a vertical motion. The selector and its adjuncts rock or tilt vertically on a horizontal pivot at V1. This motion is induced and controlled by an 1,. arm, N2, which traverses in a crooked slot in a vertical plate, A7, 'which forms part of the xed frame-work of the machine. The slot is so formed as to move the acting end of the selector up after it has passed the hook, and by Vthus moving upward it draws thehair into the path of the hook, so that the hook engagesl readily and certainly therewith on its retreat.

`rThe other hinge, V2, allows a horizontal motion on a vertical pin. This motion is induced and controlled by an arm, N3, which stands 1n `two,correspondinglygrooved slots in two horivcrooked that, on the retreating of the selector with a hair, it swings around toward and into the open shed.

The nipper-jaw in theselector is opened by contact with a stop (not represented) at the moment when the effective end of the nippers is farthest in the shed.

I find that it is practicable to thus enter the shed to the extent of an inch or more, and thus to utilize the corresponding length of hair which is held in the nippers, and is consumed in winding around the horn thereof. So soon as the nippers are openedand the hair is set free it will straighten.

In carrying out this part of the invention care must, of course, be exercised not to cause the nippers to enter the shed farther than will be compensated for by the shortest portion of hair, which is held in and wound around the selector.

The selector has a better chance .to get hold of a hair, if it is so mounted and guided that it plunges into the mass where it is slipand thus is greatly aided in supporting the slight Weight of the feeler. It will be understood that as the hook moves away the hair soon slips out past the end ot the feeler I, and allows the latter to drop. It will, therefore, fall at each pick, and there will consequently be a thrusting-backward movement ot' the bolt I3. But in case it is supported by a hair, such descent will not occur until after the shoulder I4 has risen past the stop-bolt I3, so that it will be of no effect. The pin T, carried on the carriage U, which moves the selector at each forward motion, strikes the hinged arin r, at the lower extremity of the lever R, and moving that arm forward necessarily moves the upper end of that arm backward, and elevates the feeler I. The hinged arm i isvso formed and pivoted to the lever that it is stiff in the direction to receive that motion 5 but when the pin T 'strikes it on the backward motion it turns on its pivot and allows the pin to pass without any effect.

Although I term this a hair-cloth loom, and have described it as such, it will be evident that it can be used for other material than horse-hair, which may require to be fed into the fabric by-siiigle short lengths, as manilla, china grass, or other hairs, fibers, andgrasses.

I claim as my improvements in hair-cloth looms- 1. In combination with selectingnippers and a pendulous hair-holder, the adjustable weight D3, adapted to graduate the force with which the hair resists the plunge of the selector, as herein specified.

2. The slowly-rotating` cam F and bearer J 2, in combination with a hair-holder capable of being gradually changed 'in Yposition thereby, as herein specified.

3. The vertical hinge or turning joint V and the selector NNz, in combination with mechanism, substantially as described, for moving the selector vertically as it is carried across the path of the hook, as hereinspecitied.

4. The horizontal hinge or turning joint V2, and the selector N N3, in combination with mechanism, substantially as described, for moving the selector toward and partially into the shed, as described, so as to allow of liberv ating the hair therein, as and for the purposes herein specified.

5. The stop or stops El and their operating mechanism, substantially as described, and the feeler I, whereby they are controlled, arranged to arrest the motion of the lay C and prevent its touching the goods when the machine is working idly, as herein specified.

6. The lever L and its operatin g mechanism, substantially as described, in combination with and controlled by the feeler I, the movable hair-holder I), and the selector N, serving to hold the hair out of the reach of the selector after a hair is misseduntil the igureis completed, substantially as and for the purposes herein specified.

7. The selector-guide A8, in combination with the selector N and with the cradle D, arranged to direct the selector, as and for the purposes specified.

8. In combination with the feeler I, the hairsupports A10, standing close to the path of the selector N', for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of June, 1875, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

- JOHN TURPIE.

Witnesses:

WM. G. DEY, HENRY GENTNER. 

